 Where In The World?
Where in the World is Russia?
It's time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship's captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located. Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol . Get ready to travel the world!
Find longitude 100 E and latitude 60 N, and you will find Russia, located in Northern Asia and Eastern Europe. It borders the Arctic Ocean to the north and lies between many small European countries to the west and the North Pacific Ocean to the east. In the south, it is bordered by Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area. It is almost twice the size of China or the U.S. The Caspian Sea in Russia is the world's largest lake but is called a sea because when it was discovered, they tasted the water and it was salty. Russia also contains Europe's tallest peak, Mount El'brus.
Russia was formerly the Russian Federation and part of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR). The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and Russia became an independent nation. During the Soviet period, Russia was a Communist country. Since the USSR split, the country has struggled to build a democratic political system. Free education for children begins at age 7. They must attend school for a minimum of eight years, but most receive 10 years of schooling. There are more than 70 different nationalities in Russia, so many languages are spoken. The children learn the Russian language but are primarily taught in their own languages.
Although January 1 is the official New Year's Day in Russia, some Russians still celebrate according to the Julian calendar on January 14. On January 2, the Russian people hold a Passport Presentation. This is a ceremony for 16-year-olds, to recognize them as citizens of the country.
Sources: The World Factbook prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency; Britannica Student Encyclopaedia.
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